Public Advocate Letitia James is leading a high-profile group of lawmakers in pushing to outfit cops with body cameras in the wake of the death of Eric Garner after a confrontation with Staten Island cops, reported the Daily News.
James first announced the plan last week and repeated it with a new letter to Mayor Bill de Blasio, NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton and City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito.
"A pilot program and a substantive discussion on this topic will help us develop a robust approach to using new technology in maintaining law and order," wrote James. "By equipping police officers with body-worn cameras, we can prevent incidents like Mr. Garner's death, and mark his death as a turning point and not simply a low point."
The letter is co-signed by Congress members Reps. Charles Rangel, Yvette Clarke, and Hakeem Jeffries. Also supporting the proposal are Borough Presidents Gale Brewer of Manhattan and Eric Adams (a former cop) of Brooklyn and Ruben Diaz Jr. of the Bronx; Assemblymembers Felix Ortiz and Robert Rodriguez; and City Councilwomen Vanessa Gibson and Deborah Rose.
De Blasio said at a recent news conference that he supports the idea, but the technology has to be devised.
